The Exemplary Novels of Cervantes eBook

THE LADY CORNELIA.

Don Antonio de Isunza and Don Juan de Gamboa, gentlemen
of high birth and excellent sense, both of the same
age, and very intimate friends, being students together
at Salamanca, determined to abandon their studies
and proceed to Flanders. To this resolution they
were incited by the fervour of youth, their desire
to see the world, and their conviction that the profession
of arms, so becoming to all, is more particularly
suitable to men of illustrious race.

But they did not reach Flanders until peace was restored,
or at least on the point of being concluded; and at
Antwerp they received letters from their parents,
wherein the latter expressed the great displeasure
caused them by their sons having left their studies
without informing them of their intention, which if
they had done, the proper measures might have been
taken for their making the journey in a manner befitting
their birth and station.

Unwilling to give further dissatisfaction to their
parents, the young men resolved to return to Spain,
the rather as there was now nothing to be done in
Flanders. But before doing so they determined
to visit all the most renowned cities of Italy; and
having seen the greater part of them, they were so
much attracted by the noble university of Bologna,
that they resolved to remain there and complete the
studies abandoned at Salamanca.

They imparted their intentions to their parents, who
testified their entire approbation by the magnificence
with which they provided their sons with every thing
proper to their rank, to the end that, in their manner
of living, they might show who they were, and of what
house they were born. From the first day, therefore,
that the young men visited the schools, all perceived
them to be gallant, sensible, and well-bred gentlemen.

Don Antonio was at this time in his twenty-fourth
year, and Don Juan had not passed his twenty-sixth.
This fair period of life they adorned by various good
qualities; they were handsome, brave, of good address,
and well versed in music and poetry; in a word, they
were endowed with such advantages as caused them to
be much sought and greatly beloved by all who knew
them. They soon had numerous friends, not only
among the many Spaniards belonging to the university,[2]
but also among people of the city, and of other nations,
to all of whom they proved themselves courteous, liberal,
and wholly free from that arrogance which is said to
be too often exhibited by Spaniards.

[2] Cardinal Albornoz founded a college in the university
of Bologna, expressly for the Spaniards, his countrymen.

Being young, and of joyous temperament, Don Juan and
Don Antonio did not fail to give their attention to
the beauties of the city. Many there were indeed
in Bologna, both married and unmarried, remarkable
as well for their virtues as their charms; but among
them all there was none who surpassed the Signora
Cornelia Bentivoglia, of that old and illustrious
family of the Bentivogli, who were at one time lords
of Bologna.